Her Entrancing Smile [COMPLETED]

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

THERESIA'S POV

It has been a week since the family date happened, at simula noon ay lagi ko nang kasama si Martha sa shop ni Martina. Dahil kung hindi request ni Martina ay request naman ng anak ko.

At first, I'm very uncomfortable with it, kasi akala ko last na yung sa mall, but I guessed wrong. Every time they get a chance, they would go to the ice cream parlor and come back to the office to talk, have more fun, and Martina would teach her how to draw.

Parang ngayon lang. Nasa loob kami ng office ni Martina. Nasa swivel chair siya at nakakandong sa kanya si Martha. They're both smiling as they draw and color dresses.

"Mommy, Mommy, look oh!" pagkuha ni Martha sa atensyon ko. When I looked at her, she was waving the paper in her hand as she smiled. "Mommy, look! Tito Martin and I drew a dress for you."

I smiled as I stood up from the sofa and walked papunta sa likod nila. Inabot naman ni Martha sa akin ang papel and Martina caressed her hair as he smiled. Nang makita ko ang drawing niya, it wasn't just a picture of me wearing a red dress, Martha and Martina were there too. Katulad noong itsura namin sa mall.

"Isn't it pretty, Mommy?" nakangiting tanong ni Martha.

I kissed her forehead. "Pretty like you, my baby."

Martha's smile grew wider. Napatingin naman ako kay Martina. He was also smiling at me then he joked, "Where's my kiss?" He even pouted.

Pinitik ko naman ang noo niya. "Don't joke like that in front of my baby," saway ko.

Mahina naman siyang natawa. "What's wrong with it? You kissed her, gusto ko rin." He pouted even more.

"Tigil-tigilan mo 'kong Martina ka ah," napipikon kong sabi. Tinawanan niya lang naman ako.

Nang tingnan ko si Martha ay nakangisi ang bata.

I raised an eyebrow at my kid. "What?"

"Ang cute niyo po, Mommy. Para po kayong sina Tito Pogi and Tito Pretty," nakangisi niya pa ring sabi saka humarap kay Martina. "Do you like my mommy, Tito Martin?" Both of us stilled at my little girl's question. W-Why? Why would she ask that kind of question?

Sakto namang may kumatok sa pinto ng opisina saka pumasok si Charlotte. Medyo natigilan pa siya nang makita niya kami. "Ay taray! Fairy Family! Fairy King ka na ba, Queen?" tanong niya habang natatawa.

Ngumiti naman si Martina. "What do you need, Charlotte?" Pinababa niya muna si Martha mula sa kandungan niya.

"Baby, roon muna tayo sa sofa habang may kausap si Tito, ha?" bulong ko kay Martha na tinanguan niya naman.

Pareho kaming umupo sa sofa, I was checking the designs and she was eating her cookies while coloring.

"LUST DAWN's fifth anniversary will be two days from now. Both of Ms. Myers' and your presence are requested by the hosts themselves. Place? LUST DAWN. Meaning your flight to Thailand is scheduled for tomorrow, three PM sharp. You'll arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport at approximately six-thirty PM, Filipino time. Eight PM pa naman po ang party kaya may isa't kalahating oras pa po kayo para mag-prepare. Your private plane will be ready," pagdi-discuss ni Charlotte ng mga kailangang malaman.

Two days from now? LUST DAWN? Nightclub kung saan kami pumunta noon ni Martina?

At kami lang dalawa‽

"Please tell me that you didn't book us a hotel suite," malokong sabi ni Martina.

Umiling naman si Charlotte. "No, Fairy Queen. We were informed that you have a condo unit in Thailand and that you prefer to stay there."

Agad nag-init ang pisngi ko sa narinig ko. "C-Can you book a hotel room for me instead?" tanong ko kay Charlotte.

"If that's what you want po, Ms. Myers—"

Martina cut her off. "Don't you want to stay with me? It's just for one night," seryosong tanong ni Martina habang nakatingin sa akin.

One night lang din yung nangyari sa atin noon tapos galing din tayo sa club na 'yun. Tigil-tigilan mo 'ko, Martina. Baka mapunta na naman ako sa US nang wala sa oras.

I awkwardly smiled. "The last time I checked, iisa lang ang kwarto mo sa condo mo. I don't think you'll feel comfortable about it." I don't think I'll feel comfortable about it.

Ilang saglit niya muna akong tinitigan na para bang may sinusubukan siyang alalahanin or i-analyze. Kinabahan tuloy ako.

He let out a chuckle. "Nah, I'll be fine with it." Tumingin siya kay Charlotte. "We'll both stay in my condo. Was that all?" Tumango naman si Char. "Great! Thank you. You may now leave." She bowed before walking out of the room. Tumingin naman si Martina kay Martha. "Hey, my little princess. Would you like some ice cream?"

Agad lumiwanag ang mukha ni Martha saka mabilis na tumango. "Yes po! Let's buy ice cream!" Agad din siyang tumayo.

"Hindi ba kaka-ice cream niyo lang kahapon at nung isang araw?" I crossed my arms.

"But Mommy..." Martha pouted. "Please, Mommy."

Napansin ko namang nakatayo na rin pala si Martina sa tabi ni Martha. He even copied Martha's position. Hands together as if they were pleading, and then he pouted. "Please, Mommy..."

I rolled my eyes. Martina looked adorable. And they looked so alike.

Mahina kong pinalo ang noo ni Martina. "Tumigil ka nga. Jusmiyo ka."

This is cuter than what I imagined. But it also somehow scares me.

Tumawa siya saka binulungan si Martha pero halatang pinaparinig din sa akin. "Halika na, Martha. Let's make iwan your mommy. 'Di natin siya bibilhan ng ice cream."

Ngumisi naman si Martha saka hinayaang buhatin siya ni Martina. "Babye, mommy!" Kumaway pa ang bata bago sila nagmamadali ni Martina na lumabas ng opisina.

So, I'm the bad cop and he's the spoiler, huh? I sighed. Kinuha ko naman kaagad ang phone at wallet ko saka sumunod sa kanila.

The rest of the day went on like that. Pumunta kami sa ice cream parlor and they both ordered Ube-flavored ice cream while I had a Coffee crumble.

Ansama pa nga ng tingin sa akin ni Martina when I told the server my order. Ano bang problema ng taong 'to?

When we had our order, we sat down and ate our ice creams. If strangers look at us, they'll probably see a happy family—a real family. Hindi ko naman mapigilang makonsensya. I'm the only one keeping it a secret.

"After the ice cream, may gusto ka pa bang bilhin or kainin, Martha?" Martina asked my daughter na katabi niya.

Umakto pa si Martha na nag-iisip bago nakangiting nagtanong kay Martina. "Are we going to eat dinner together po? Grandma said she'll cook dinner po eh."

Napatingin naman sa akin si Martina. And now you'll ask for my help? Dinadaldal mo nang dinadaldal anak ko eh.

"Why are you looking at me? It's your choice," I said which made him smile before looking at Martha.

"Kung 'yan ang gusto mo, then I'll come to your house before dinner." He caressed Martha's hair.

Hinayaan ko na lang ang nangyayari. I should maybe just go with the flow besides, wala pa rin nama akong Noah na nakikita nitong mga nakaraang araw. I should just give these times to Martha and Martina. Kahit hindi nila alam ang totoo.